Power actuated cradle



J. D. KELLENBARGER 2,794,190

POWER ACTUATED CRADLE June 4, 1957 2 Shets-Sheeh 1.

Filed July 2, 1954 INVENT OR. Kellen hard er ATTD RN EYS June 1957 J. D. KELLENBARGER 2,794,190

POWER ACTUATED CRADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1954 INVENT OR. zfaiqvlz D. fiallznbazger ATTEI RNEYS United States Patent POWER ACTUATED CRADLE Joseph D. Kellenbarger, Arnold, Nebr. Application July 2, 1954, Serial No. 441,121 6 Claims. (Cl. 103) This invention relates to power actuated cradle rocking devices, and in particular, a frame suspended in a housing or stand, reciprocated laterally by an electric motor or by other suitable power means and having means for attaching a cradle thereto whereby the cradle is actuated without rocking, turning, tilting or rolling.

The purpose of this invention is to provide mechanical means for actuating a cradle for infants whereby the cradle may be moved laterally with a smooth, easy movement and without rocking, rolling or tilting.

Various types of devices have been provided for rocking cradles, and the like, however, such devices operate the cradle with a rocking or tilting action and with such devices there is danger of a baby being thrown from the cradle. With this thought in'mind, this invention contemplates a stand for a cradle in which the cradle is suspended by hangers positioned at the four corners and in which the cradle is moved laterally with a smooth, easy movement, by an electric motor or by other suitable power device to which the cradle is connected with an oscillating arm.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a stand for a baby cradle in which the cradle is suspended and actuated with a floating action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically actuated cradle which provides an economically feasible and useful product, necessary for the improvement of method of care and health preservation of infants and which also obviates wear and continuous strain of a parent or attendant resulting from long hours of careful attention.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved movement in a mechanically actuated cradle in which the cradle is of a simple and economical construc-' tion. 7

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a stand having brackets in the ends with the brackets suspended by pivotally connected rods positioned at the corners of the stand and with a longitudinally disposed shaft carried by the brackets operated by an oscillating arm driven by a motor in the stand wherer by with a cradle secured to the upper ends of the brackets the cradle is reciprocated laterally without rocking or tilting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the cradle and showing the cradle mounted upon a stand.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the stand being taken on line"2'2 of Figure l, the cradle being shown in elevation and fins at the ends thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stand with parts broken away showing the cradle operating elements on the interior thereof.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the stand showing the cradle actuating elements.

. Figure 4, illustrating, in broken lines,

Figure Sis a cross section, similar to thatshown in the travel of the cradle as the cradle is actuated laterally. 1

Figure 6 is detail illustrating one position of the oscillating arm and showing the arm in inclined position.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the arm in a vertical position.

Figure 8 is also a similar view, however, in Figure 8,

the arm is positioned to extend in a direction opposite to that shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the oscillating elements of the arm showing the parts exploded and also showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved cradle actuating device of this invention includes a stand 10, a cradle 11 adapted to be positioned on the stand, an-

oscillating arm 12, brackets 13 and 14 upon which the cradle is mounted, a longitudinally disposed shaft 15 mounted in tabs 16 and 17 extended from the brackets, a motor 18 for actuating a transversely disposed oscillator shaft'19 upon which the oscillating element of the arm 12 is mounted and rods 20 and 21 at one end and 22 and 23 at the opposite end for suspending the brackets whereby the cradle may be retained in floating relation to the stand. i

The stand 10 is provided with upwardly converging side and end walls with flanges 24 and 25 on the upper edges of the side walls and flanges 26 and 27 on the upper edges of the end Walls and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower edges of the side and end walls are rolled to provide beads 28 and the beads are provided with resilient covering elements 30.

Y The upper edges of the brackets 13 and 14 are provided with flanges 31 and 32 and the flanges are provided with spaced openings, as indicated by the numeral 33, by which the cradle may be secured to the brackets with screws or the like.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the suspending rods which extend through openings in the vertically disposed sections of the brackets 13 and 14 and also with horizontally disposed upper ends 35 which are pivotally mounted in bearings 36 on longitudinally dispose-d angle bars 37 and 38. By this means the brackets are suspended by the rods and with the rods in parallel relation, the brackets, with the cradle thereon, are free to move laterally whereby reciprocating action may be imparted to the cradle without rocking, rolling, or tilting.

The shaft 15, the ends of which are secured in the brackets 13 and 14, is provided with a split bushing 39 that is secured by a clamp 40 between the clamp and an arcuate section 41 on the lower end of the oscillating 1 arm with acap screw, or other fastening element, such as indicated by the numeral 42. The cap screw 42 extends through a flange 43 on the clamp 40 and may be threaded in an opening 44 in the lower end of the arm 12 whereby the parts 40 and 41 are clamped over the resilient bushing 39 and positioned between flanges on the ends of the bushing.

The u'pper end of the oscillating arm 12 is provided with a substantially circular portion 45 that is positioned between flanges 46 and 47 of cup-shaped elements 48 and 49 and the parts are secured together over a ball bearing having balls 50 positioned between an outer race 51 and an inner race 52, with bolts 53.

The inner race 52 which is fixedly mounted upon the transversely disposed oscillator shaft 19, providing a cam, and which is formed with an angularly disposed bore which is in alignment with the hubs 54 and 55 of the cup-shaped elements 48 and 49 is positionedin a plane Fatented June 4,

inclined at an angle slightly different than a right angle in relation to the axis of the shaft 19, whereby, upon rotation of the shaft 19, the oscillating arm 12 swings from the position shown in Figure 7 to the positions shown in Figures 6 and 8, whereby the shaft 15 moves laterally imparting an oscillating motion to the cradle so that the cradle travels from side to side and remains in a horizontal position continuously. The cradle travels upwardly slightly toward each end of the movement thereby providing a comfortable and pleasing sensation to an infant or child therein.

The cup-shaped member 48 is provided with a hub 54 and the member 49 is provided with a similar hub 55 and with cam surfaces in the element the oscillating arm 12 is moved laterally as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure whereby the shaft 15 moves the brackets 13 and 14 laterally as indicated in Figure 5 with the dotted and broken lines.

The upper shaft 19 is rotatably mounted in bearings 56 inside bars 57 and 58 of a U-shaped intermediate support having a base 59 from which the side bars extend. The upper ends of the side bars are provided with flanges 60 and 61 having inclined tips 62 and 63, respectively, and the tips 62 and 63 are provided with openings 64 by which the intermediate member is secured in position in the stand with bolts 65.

The shaft 19 is rotated by a belt 66 that is trained over a pulley 67 on the shaft 19 and also over a pulley 68 on a counter-shaft 69, the countershaft being rotatably mounted with bearings 70 and 71' in the side bars 57 and 58 and the shaft being driven by a belt 72 that is trained over a pulley 73 on the shaft 69 and also over a pulley 74 on a shaft 75 of the motor 18.

The motor 18 is secured to a base 76 connected to the base 59 of the intermediate member with hinges 77 with bolts 78 that are positioned in openings 79 in the base 76 and, as illustrated in Figure 3, the base 76 is supported by a brace 80, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the base 76 with a clamp 81 and the upper end of which is secured to the side bar 57 with a pin 82.

With the base 76 hinged to one side of the base 59 and with the brace 80 provided with a slotted opening through which the pin 82 extends, the weight of the motor will provide tension in the belt 72 suflicient to take up slack therein.

With the cradle 11 secured to the flanges 31 and 32 of the brackets 13 and 14 by bolts, such as the bolts 83, the cradle is secured to the stand and with the lower end of the stand flared outwardly, as shown in the drawings, all danger of the cradle being tipped over is eliminated.

The wall of the cradle is provided with hand-receiving openings 84 and the ends of the cradle may be provided with fins 85 and 86 to represent a boat, or the like.

The stand may also be provided with hand openings, as indicated by the numeral 87, by means of which the stand may be carried from one position to another.

With this assembly of parts, a motor, such as a clock motor, rotates the shaft 19 and with the shaft 19 operating and the lower end of the arm 12 held by the shaft 15, an oscillating movement is imparted to the shaft with the arm following through the positions shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 whereby the cradle moves laterally, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 5, with the brackets moving upwardly as the end of each movement is reached.

By this means a smooth, easy movement is imparted to the cradle with the cradle traveling with a floating action and with the brackets 13 and 14 reciprocating laterally with the ends of the brackets moving into notches 88in the flanges 24 and 25.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cradle actuator comprising a stand, brackets suspended in the stand, a cradle mounted on upper ends of the brackets, a transversely disposed support having uprights at the ends positioned in the stand, a transversely disposed oscillator shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights of the support, a cam mounted on the transversely disposed oscillator shaft and positioned in an inclined plane in relation to the axis of the shaft, a vertically disposed arm having a hub on one end positioned with the hub extended over the cam, and means for operatively connecting the opposite end of said arm to the brackets.

2. A cradle actuator comprising a stand, brackets positioned in the stand and having flanges extended above the upper surface of the stand, vertically disposed rods positioned in the corners of the stand with their upper ends pivotally mounted in the stand and their lower ends pivotally mounted insaid brackets, a cradle mounted on the flanges on the upper ends of the brackets, a transversely disposed support having uprights at the ends mounted on the stand, a transversely disposed oscillator shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights of the support, a cam mounted on the transversely disposed shaft and positioned in an inclined plane in relation to the axis of the shaft, a vertically disposed arm having a hub on the upper end positioned in the stand with the hub extended around the cam of the transversely disposed shaft, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted in the brackets, means operatively connecting the lower end of the arm to the longitudinally disposed shaft, a counter shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights, transmission means for rotating the oscillator shaft by the counter shaft and means in the stand for rotating the counter shaft.

3. In a cradle actuator, the combination which comprises a stand having an outwardly flared lower end and an opening in the upper end, brackets positioned in the upper part of the stand and spaced from ends thereof, spaced parallel vertically disposed rods pivotally mounted in the brackets and stand whereby the brackets are suspended in the stand, a cradle mounted on the upper ends of the brackets, a U-shaped intermediate support having uprights at the ends positioned in the stand, a vertically disposed arm having a hub on the upper end also positioned in the stand, a transversely disposed oscillator shaft extended through the upper part of the stand and rotatably mounted in said uprights of the U-shaped support, a cam mounted in an inclined position on the transversely disposed oscillator shaft and positioned in the hub of the arm whereby upon rotation of the shaft an oscillating movement is imparted to the arm, means for connecting the lower end of the arm to the brackets on which the cradle is mounted, a motor in the stand and means operatively connecting the motor to the transversely disposed oscillator shaft.

4. In an electric baby cradle, the combination which comprises a stand having an outwardly flared lower end, brackets having flanges on upper ends thereof freely mounted in the stand and spaced inwardly from ends thereof, a cradle mounted on the flanges at the upper ends of the brackets, a transversely disposed U-shaped support having uprights at the ends positioned in the stand, a transversely disposed oscillator shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights of the support, a cam providing an inner race of a ball bearing fixedly mounted on the transversely disposed shaft and positioned in a plane at an angle slightly different than a right angle to the axis of the shaft, a vertically disposed arm having a hub on one end positioned with the hub extended over the cam, an outer race of a ball bearing mounted in the hub of the arm and positioned to coact with the inner race of the bearing, balls positioned between the inner and outer races of the ball bearing, and means for operatively conmeeting the opposite end of the arm to the brackets for actuating the brackets to impart a floating motion to the cradle upon rotation of the transversely disposed oscillator shaft.

5. In an electric baby cradle, the combination which comprises a stand having an outwardly flared lower end, brackets having flanges on upper ends thereof freely mounted in the stand and spaced inwardly from ends thereof, a cradle mounted on the flanges at the upper ends of the brackets, an arm positioned in the stand and operatively connected at one end to the brackets, a motor positioned in the stand, a transversely disposed support having uprights at the ends mounted on the stand, a transversely disposed oscillator shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights of the support, a cam providing an inner race of a ball bearing fixedly mounted in an inclined position on the transversely disposed oscillator shaft, said arm having a hub on the end opposite to the end connected to the brackets and said hub being positioned over the cam, an outer race of a ball bearing mounted in the hub of the arm, balls positioned between the inner and outer races of the ball bearing, a counter-shaft rotatably mounted in the uprights of the support and operatively connected to the transversely disposed oscillator shaft and transmission elements operatively connecting the motor to the counter shaft whereby the cradle is actuated with an oscillating movement.

6. In an oscillator, the combination which comprises a stand, spaced vertically disposed brackets positioned in the stand, a receptacle carried by upper ends of the brackets, vertically disposed rods positioned at the corners of the stand, upper ends of the rods being pivotally mounted in the stand and the lower ends pivotally connected to the brackets for swingably mounting the brackets in the stand, a transversely disposed shaft rotatably mounted in the stand, cup-shaped elements having a bearing therein fixedly mounted on the shaft and mounted at an angle of substantially degrees in relation to the shaft, an arm secured between said cupshaped elements and depending therefrom, a longitudinally disposed shaft mounted in said brackets, means connecting the lower end of the arm to the longitudinally disposed shaft, and means for rotating the said transversely disposed shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 188,581 Buchanan Mar. 20, 1877 1,132,432 Brzozowski Mar. 16, 1915 1,439,619 Dziedzic Dec. 19, 1922 2,482,318 Carruth Sept. 20, 1949 2,544,298 Chodacki Mar. 6, 1951 2,609,863 Paulich Sept. 9, 1952 2,644,958 Davis July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,791 Great Britain 1903 8,113 Great Britain 1912 15,552 Great Britain 1885 

